Today's News-Thursday, August 13 2009

NEW DIGS FOR DAVE

ARGALL SNIPPET

THAT’S STATE SENATOR DAVE ARGALL COMMENTING ON HIS NEW DISTRICT OFFICE THAT OPENED AT 100 NORTH CENTRE STREET IN POTTSVILLE. ARGALL SAID THAT THE LARGE SIZE OF THE 29TH DISTRICT PROMPTED THE ADDITION OF THE NEW OFFICE IN THE COUNTY SEAT. THE OFFICE NUMBER IS 621-3400.

WATER MAIN BREAK PROMPTS BOIL ADVISORY

RESIDENTS IN ONE SECTION OF POTTSVILLE WILL NEED TO BOIL THEIR WATER BEFORE USE DUE TO A WATER MAIN BREAK. THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY REPORTS THAT A LINE BREAK IN THE WESTERN END OF THE CITY PROMPTED THE BOIL ADVISORY FOR CUSTOMERS IN YORKVILLE AND THE YORK FARM SECTION. THAT ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR ABOUT TWO DAYS.

TOOLS AND ITEMS TAKEN

BURGLARS GOT AWAY WITH A SIZEABLE HAUL FROM A HUBLEY TOWNSHIP HOME LATE LAST MONTH. STATE POLICE ARE JUST RELEASING DETAILS OF THE BREAK IN AT THE HOME OF JOHN MILLER. THE BANDITS ENTERED A GARAGE AND TOOK TOOLS AND OTHER ITEMS VALUED AT $10 TO $12 THOUSAND DOLLARS THEN FLED. SCHUYLKILL HAVEN STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING.

CRYSTAL METH AT PRISON

THE PROBLEMS OF AN INMATE AT SCHUYLKILL COUNTY PRISON HAVE JUST GOTTEN WORSE AFTER SHE WAS FOUND TO HAVE DRUGS IN HER POSSESSION. POTTSVILLE POLICE REPORT THAT 41 YEAR OLD KELLY DOUGHERTY OF TAMAQUA WAS FOUND TO HAVE A SMALL QUANTITY OF METH AND A GLASS PIPE ON HER WHEN SEARCHED. SHE WAS ALREADY IN JAIL FOR OTHER DRUG OFFENSES, AND NOW HAS MORE CHARGES TACKED ON TO HER SENTENCE.

WEED GROWING IN KLINGERSTOWN

STATE POLICE HAVE NAILED A KLINGERSTOWN MAN FOR GROWING POT IN HIS YARD. SIX PLANTS WERE OBSERVED AT THE HOME OF GARY BORK, MAIN STREET IN THE BOROUGH. A SEARCH OF THE HOME UNCOVERED OTHER DRUG RELATED ITEMS. BORK IS IN THE COUNTY PRISON IN LIEU OF BAIL.

CAR FLIPS IN CRASH

A VALLEY VIEW MAN SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES IN A WILD CRASH IN HEGINS TOWNSHIP EARLY WEDNESDAY. STATE POLICE SAY 18 YEAR OLD MICHAEL BIXLER’S CAR DRIFTED OFF OF ROUTE 25 IN HEGINS TOWNSHIP, STRUCK A UTILITY POLE, A SPEED LIMIT SIGN, MAILBOXES, THEN BECAME AIRBORNE AND FLIPPED OVER. BIXLER WILL BE CITED IN THE ACCIDENT.

GARAGE FIRE

A SMOKY BLAZE DESTROYED A GARAGE IN NEW PHILADELPHIA WEDNESDAY. CREWS FROM SEVERAL COMMUNITIES RESPONDED TO THE FIRE ON KIMBER STREET AFTER 4:30PM. BLACK SMOKE COULD BE SEEN FOR SOME DISTANCE ACCORDING TO REPORTS. THE CAUSE IS NOT YET KNOWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

COURTHOUSE KICKBACKS
PA. JUDGE: THROW OUT JUVENILE CONVICTIONS
READING, PA. (AP) - THE PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT MUST DECIDE WHETHER TO FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF A JUDGE IT APPOINTED TO EXAMINE JUVENILE CASES HANDLED BY A JUDGE ACCUSED OF TAKING KICKBACKS. BERKS COUNTY JUDGE ARTHUR GRIM SAYS FINDINGS OF DELINQUENCY FROM LUZERNE COUNTY JUDGE MARK CIAVARELLA (SHIV-UH-REL'-UH) SHOULD BE THROWN OUT. HE SAYS IN CASES WHERE THE TEENS DIDN'T HAVE LAWYERS, THE MISCONDUCT WAS BAD ENOUGH THAT IT WOULD BE DOUBLE JEOPARDY TO RETRY THEM. FOR THOSE JUVENILES WHO HAD LAWYERS, GRIM SAYS THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED THEIR SENTENCES SHOULD HAVE THEIR FINDINGS OF DELINQUENCY VACATED TOO AND HE SAYS NO GOOD WILL COME FROM RETRYING THE CASES. HE SAYS HE SHOULD REVIEW THE CASES OF THOSE WHO HAD LAWYERS AND HAVEN'T COMPLETED THEIR SENTENCES INDIVIDUALLY.

GRADUATION EXAMS
PA. PANEL ENDORSES KEYSTONE HIGH SCHOOL EXAMS
HARRISBURG, PA. (AP) - PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF EDUCATION CHAIRMAN JOE TORSELLA SAYS HE'S OPTIMISTIC THAT THE FULL 22-MEMBER BOARD WILL APPROVE NEW HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION COMPETENCY TESTS. THE BOARD'S COUNCIL OF BASIC EDUCATION VOTED 7-1 WEDNESDAY TO APPROVE THE NEW KEYSTONE EXAMS, WHICH WOULD REPLACE THE PENNSYLVANIA SYSTEM OF SCHOOL ASSESSMENT TESTS NOW ADMINISTERED IN THE 11TH GRADE. STUDENTS WOULD TAKE THE KEYSTONE EXAMS IN GRADES NINE THROUGH 12 AS THEY COMPLETE THEIR COURSE WORK, AND THE SCORES WOULD COUNT AS ONE-THIRD OF THEIR FINAL GRADES. IF THE FULL BOARD APPROVES THE NEW EXAMS THURSDAY, THAT WOULD CLEAR THE WAY FOR A FINAL REGULATORY REVIEW OF RULES TO USE THE NEW TESTS. PROPONENTS SAY THE PLAN WOULD MORE EFFECTIVELY MEASURE STUDENTS' PROGRESS, WHILE ALLOWING LOCAL DISTRICTS TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN TESTS SUBJECT TO STATE APPROVAL. CRITICS SAY THE NEW TESTS ARE TOO COSTLY AND COULD UNFAIRLY PENALIZE STUDENTS WHO DO POORLY ON TESTS.

HEALTH CLUB SHOOTING
FUNERAL BEGINS FOR 3RD VICTIM OF PA. GYM SHOOTING
FRANKLIN, PA. (AP) - THE FUNERAL FOR THE LAST VICTIM OF A SHOOTING RAMPAGE AT A PITTSBURGH-AREA HEALTH CLUB BEGAN AT THE SAME TIME THE STATE SENATE WAS OBSERVING A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE THREE WOMEN KILLED IN THE SHOOTINGS. STATE SEN. MARY JO WHITE ADDRESSED ABOUT 400 MOURNERS IN FRANKLIN WHO GATHERED WEDNESDAY FOR THE FUNERAL OF 37-YEAR-OLD JODY BILLINGSLEY. FUNERALS FOR THE OTHER TWO VICTIMS, 46-YEAR-OLD HEIDI OVERMIER AND 49-YEAR-OLD ELIZABETH GANNON, WERE ON SATURDAY. ALL THREE WOMEN WERE KILLED AND NINE OTHERS WOUNDED AUG. 4 AT THE L.A. FITNESS CLUB IN COLLIER TOWNSHIP BY GUNMAN GEORGE SODINI, WHO THEN KILLED HIMSELF. WHITE PRESENTED BILLINGSLEY'S PARENTS WITH A COPY OF THE SENATE RESOLUTION FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE HONORING THE VICTIMS AT 11 A.M. WEDNESDAY, THE TIME THE FUNERAL BEGAN.

2004 CLEAVER KILLING
PA. MAN TO STAND TRIAL IN 2004 CLEAVER KILLING
STROUDSBURG, PA. (AP) - A NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA MAN WHO HAS ACKNOWLEDGED KILLING A MAN WITH A MEAT CLEAVER IN 2004 HAS BEEN
ORDERED TO STAND TRIAL ON CRIMINAL HOMICIDE AND OTHER CHARGES. ROBERT GIARDINI TOLD POLICE A STRANGER SHOWED UP AT HIS POCONO TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY, HOME AND ASKED TO USE THE PHONE. HE SAID HE USED THE CLEAVER AFTER WALKER BECAME VIOLENT. POLICE NOW SAY THAT 30-YEAR-OLD KEVIN WALKER OF PATERSON, N.J., WAS GIARDINI'S DRUG DEALER. POLICE SAY GIARDINI AND HIS WIFE, ANN, TAMPERED WITH EVIDENCE. SHE DIED A FEW WEEKS BEFORE HER HUSBAND WAS ARRESTED IN JUNE. WHEN ASKED BY REPORTERS OUTSIDE WEDNESDAY'S PRELIMINARY HEARING WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT, GIARDINI ONLY SAID, "IT WAS A BAD DAY."

BABY SITTER-CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
PA. MAN GETS 120 YEARS FOR MAKING CHILD PORN
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A PENNSYLVANIA MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 120 YEARS IN PRISON FOR MAKING A HUGE CACHE OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY THAT SHOWS HIM SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A DOZEN CHILDREN, INCLUDING INFANTS AT A GIRLFRIEND'S IN-HOME DAY CARE. THE FBI FOUND JOHN JACKEY WORMAN WITH MORE THAN 1 MILLION IMAGES OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. WORMAN MADE GIRLS PERFORM SEX ACTS FOR SCHOOL LUNCH MONEY, AND HAD ANOTHER GIRLFRIEND'S SON SLEEP IN A LOCKED WOODEN CRATE IN THE BASEMENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE PRESIDING JUDGE DESCRIBES 42-YEAR-OLD JOHN JACKEY WORMAN OF COLWYN AS A SELDOM-EMPLOYED SOCIOPATH WHO SPONGED OFF WOMEN AND SADISTICALLY COERCED HIS YOUNG VICTIMS.

DELI MEATS BATTLE
PRICEY PA. DELI MEAT MAKER CHALLENGES NC GROCER
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF PHILADELPHIA-BASED MEAT AND CHEESE MAKER DIETZ & WATSON PLANS TO BE IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR A BLIND TASTE TEST WITH RIVAL BOAR'S HEAD. DIETZ & WATSON BOSS LOUIS ENI SAYS SARASOTA, FLA.-BASED BOAR'S HEAD HAS A BIG MARKETING MACHINE THAT'S ENABLED IT TO GET DEALS REQUIRING IT TO BE THE ONLY SLICED-TO-ORDER MEAT AND CHEESE IN MANY STORES. ENI SAYS HIS COMPANY DOESN'T REQUIRE EXCLUSIVITY BECAUSE IT'S CONFIDENT IN THE QUALITY OF ITS PRODUCTS. SO ON THURSDAY IN DOWNTOWN CHARLOTTE, N.C., ENI PLANS TO BE ON HAND AS DIETZ & WATSON PITS ITS LONDON BROIL ROAST BEEF AND BUFFALO CHICKEN AGAINST BOAR'S HEAD'S VERSIONS OF THE SAME.

PHILADELPHIA SCHOOLS-DANZA
PHILLY SCHOOLS CONSIDERING TONY DANZA REALITY SHOW
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - YO, PHILLY STUDENTS! TONY DANZA MIGHT BE TEACHING IN A CITY HIGH SCHOOL THIS FALL. THE FORMER TALK SHOW HOST AND STAR OF THE SITCOMS "TAXI" AND "WHO'S THE BOSS?" IS PLANNING TO STAR IN A NEW REALITY SHOW CALLED "TEACH." IF APPROVED BY PHILADELPHIA EDUCATION OFFICIALS, CAMERAS WOULD ROLL AT NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL AS DANZA CO-TEACHES A 10TH-GRADE ENGLISH CLASS. THE SCHOOL REFORM COMMISSION WILL VOTE NEXT WEEK ON ALLOWING AT LEAST 13 EPISODES TO BE SHOT AND BROADCAST ON THE CABLE CHANNEL A&E. PRODUCERS AREN'T SURE WHEN THE SHOW WILL AIR. ON WEDNESDAY, SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER SUPPORTING THE PROJECT. PRODUCERS SAY DANZA IS ALREADY ATTENDING NEW-TEACHER TRAINING WITH OTHER FIRST-YEAR INSTRUCTORS IN THE DISTRICT.

HELENA, MONT. (AP) - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WILL TAKE HIS HEALTH CARE TOWN HALL TOUR TO MONTANA TOMORROW, AND PROTESTERS PLAN TO TURN OUT IN FORCE. ORGANIZERS SAY THE PUBLIC IS NOT HAPPY WITH THE EXPENSIVE REFORM PROPOSALS. THE PRESIDENT WILL ALSO VISIT COLORADO ON SATURDAY.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A FORMER HEALTH INSURANCE EXECUTIVE SAYS HE BELIEVES THE INDUSTRY IS LENDING SUPPORT TO CRITICS OF HEALTH CARE REFORM. WENDELL POTTER, NOW A CRITIC OF THE INDUSTRY HE USED TO WORK FOR, SAYS IN THE PAST, INSURANCE COMPANIES WOULD CHANNEL MONEY TO GROUPS TO CREATE OPPOSITION TO SPECIFIC ISSUES.

PARACHINAR, PAKISTAN (AP) - PAKISTANI INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS SAY HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS HAVE POUNDED SEVERAL BASES OF A KEY TALIBAN
COMMANDER. AT LEAST 12 MILITANTS ARE REPORTED KILLED. THE ASSAULT
COMES AS GOVERNMENT FORCES RATCHET UP PRESSURE ON THE NORTHWESTERN
MILITANT NETWORK.

LANSING, MICH. (AP) - OBAMA ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS PLAN TO TOUR A MICHIGAN STATE PRISON THAT COULD END UP HOLDING TERRORISM SUSPECTS NOW DETAINED AT GUANTANAMO BAY. THE PRISON AT STANDISH IS CURRENTLY SLATED TO BE CLOSED. THE PRISON AND THE MILITARY PENITENTIARY AT LEAVENWORTH ARE AMONG SITES BEING CONSIDERED.

HYANNIS, MASS. (AP) - A PUBLIC WAKE IS TO BE HELD TODAY FOR EUNICE KENNEDY SHRIVER, WHO DIED TUESDAY AT AGE 88. THOUSANDS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE WAKE AT A CAPE COD, MASS. CHURCH, THE SAME CHURCH WHERE SHRIVER'S NIECE, CAROLINE KENNEDY, MARRIED EDWIN SCHLOSSBERG IN 1986.